US 12,012,852 B1
Method and apparatus for drill cutting analysis
David Tonner, Houston, TX (US); Aaron Swanson, New Orleans, LA (US); and Simon Hughes, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to DIVERSIFIED WELL LOGGING, LLC, Reserve, LA (US)
Filed by Diversified Well Logging, LLC, Reserve, LA (US)
Filed on May 3, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/735,686.
Application 17/735,686 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/155,183, filed on Jan. 22, 2021, granted, now 11,585,213.
Application 17/155,183 is a continuation of application No. 16/252,823, filed on Jan. 21, 2019, granted, now 10,927,671, issued on Feb. 23, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/622,740, filed on Jan. 26, 2018.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E21B 49/00 (2006.01); E21B 21/06 (2006.01); E21B 49/02 (2006.01); G01N 24/08 (2006.01); G01N 33/24 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 49/005 (2013.01) [E21B 21/066 (2013.01); E21B 49/02 (2013.01); G01N 33/24 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A robotic mud-logger comprising:
a) a slurry sampler for collecting a slurry sample online from a flow conduit or shale shaker of a drilling fluid circuit contemporaneous with drilling of a borehole, said slurry sample comprising drilling fluid and rock cuttings;
b) a liquid separator for receiving said collected slurry sample, removing drilling fluid from said collected slurry sample, and discharging a rock cuttings sample comprising substantially solid material;
c) a laser spectroscopy analyzer for performing elemental analysis of said substantially solid rock cuttings sample discharged from said liquid separator; and
d) a robotic arm or conveyor for selectively moving said discharged rock cuttings sample within said robotic mud-logger.